Michael Bisping says Anderson Silva is not showing enough respect to the fans that support him by picking and choosing when he fights in the UFC.

Bisping has been extremely vocal in recent weeks about his belief that the January 19 bout between he and Vitor Belfort should be for an interim middleweight title.

That suggestion is based on the fact Silva recently said he would be taking time away from MMA to focus on other adventures, with a May superfight against Georges St-Pierre his next expected appearance inside the Octagon.

Bisping can foresee a scenario where the UFC middleweight belt goes an entire year without being defended, and he insists Silva has to begin treating his role as champion more seriously.

"I kind of feel like he's maybe having a little bit of fun with it sometimes, but this isn't a comedy programme," he told MMA Junkie. "This is the UFC and this is fighting. It's serious business.

"If you want to take a year out, take a year out. If you don't want to take a year out, fight the No. 1 contender. Anderson is the best, but you've got to defend that title.

"It just sucks for the fans that want to see Anderson fight. It sucks for the fighters that want to fight Anderson for his belt, and it sucks for the UFC as well."